Run as a virtual event for the first time, Foxcroft's 10th Annual STEM Challenge drew 48 middle school and 36 high school students from around the country and globe to compete for prizes on February 20, 2021. Designed for middle and high school girls, participants used their knowledge of science, technology, engineering, and math in challenges revolving around this year's theme of "Code for Good."

Students registered as individuals, rather than coming to the competition with a school team as they have in the past, and were randomly assigned to virtual breakout rooms in their respective middle and high school competitions. The girls in each breakout room then worked collaboratively to solve four challenges to fix a system hack using the answers to math and science problems to prove the team was qualified to view the system's data.

Fifteen engineers from event sponsor Stryker Corporation ran the challenge activity this year, providing support and encouragement to the students in each of the breakout rooms as they worked together to solve the problems and restore the system. Following the high school competition, each of the Stryker engineers also participated in career panels where they shared their experiences and answered questions from the young competitors.

The 10th Annual STEM Challenge capped off a week-long series of optional activities also themed on coding and cybersecurity, which invited high school and middle school students to participate virtually in a daily trivia challenge and STEM activity. In all, 43 middle schoolers and 38 high schoolers completed the daily trivia challenge, with 36 students answering trivia on all five days!

According to Business Insider, 21 of the 30 best high-paying jobs in the coming decades will be in STEM fields, and research from the U.S. Commerce Department has found that on average women earn 33% more when they work in these high-growth fields. Providing girls access to STEM courses expands their job options and increases their earning potential, in addition to driving economic growth, innovation, creativity, and competition. This annual challenge showcases Foxcroft's innovative and appealing focus on the STEM fields and allows girls to develop collaborative skills and gain confidence in fields so often dominated by boys.